How to Install GIMP 2.8.16 in Ubuntu 16.04, 15.10, 14.04

Last updated: November 24, 2015

GIMP 2.8.16

GIMP image editor 2.8.16 was released on its 20th birthday. Here’s how to install or upgrade in Ubuntu 16.04, Ubuntu 15.10, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 12.04 and their derivatives, e.g., Linux Mint 17.x/13, Elementary OS Freya.

GIMP 2.8.16 features support for layer groups in OpenRaster files, fixes for layer groups support in PSD, various user inrterface improvements, OSX build system fixes, translation updates, and more changes. Read the official announcement.

How to Install or Upgrade:

Thanks to Otto Meier, an Ubuntu PPA with latest GIMP packages is available for all current Ubuntu releases and derivatives.

1. Add GIMP PPA

Open terminal from Unity Dash, App launcher, or via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut key. When it opens, paste below command and hit Enter:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

Type in your password when it asks, no visual feedback so just type in mind, and hit enter to continue.

2. Install or Upgrade the editor.

After added the PPA, launch Software Updater (or Software Manager in Mint). After checking for updates, you’ll see GIMP in the update list. Click “Install Now” to upgrade it.

For those who prefer Linux commands, run below commands one by one to refresh your repository caches and install GIMP:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gimp

3. (Optional) Uninstall.

Just in case you want to uninstall or downgrade GIMP image editor. Use Software Center to remove it, or run below commands one by one to purge PPA as well as downgrade the software:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge

sudo ppa-purge ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp

That’s it. Enjoy!

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I'm a freelance blogger who started using Ubuntu in 2007 and wishes to share my experiences and some useful tips with Ubuntu beginners and lovers. Please comment to let me know if the tutorial is outdated! And, notify me if you find any typo/grammar/language mistakes. English is not my native language. Contact me via ubuntuhandbook1@gmail.com Buy me a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/ubuntuhandbook1

5 responses to How to Install GIMP 2.8.16 in Ubuntu 16.04, 15.10, 14.04

  1. Hoover Campoverde November 25, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    Thank you so much Ji m for your big help. I’ve installed this new version using Ubuntu 14.04.3lts amd64 and it works very good.

  2. Line commands all they way, I don’t know what ppa is or how to get it to work. I tried the 1st way and no good, I went to search for GIMP it only found a .png once I did line command it worked great. Thank you

  3. Thank you Ji m! I’m running Ubuntu 16.04 and it’s running good.

  4. peter hiort petersen November 29, 2016 at 5:42 pm

    so simple but it worked. Thank you

  5. I found that the software updater didnt give me the option of clicking on gimp to update it, but the command lines dis the job just fine. thanks!!!